"Parker and his wife Joan separated at one point but then came to an unusual arrangement: she lived on one floor of a large townhouse, he on another, and they shared the others. This living arrangement is mirrored in Spenser's private life: his girlfriend, Susan, had an aversion to marriage and living together full-time. Living separately suited them both, although they were fully committed to each other."

For what it's worth, I thought I would have a difficult time adapting to sharing a small house with my husband. I had lived there, alone, for years, and I had my own way of doing things. Surprisingly, we've had virtually no problems getting used to each other, bar a difference of opinion or two about when the TV should be on or off.

Not that this ease of adaptation is universal by any stretch, but it does happen occasionally.

I think, that barring future revelation of major character flaws, that I might have finally met Mr. Right instead of Mr. Right Now. He's my perfect guy physically, and I find his personality (interests, demeanor, intellect) as attractive as the outer packaging. He's also interested in me. And single. He just moved into the area for work, so that isn't as big a surprise as it should be.

Still no prospects here. I'm looking to change jobs, and I have to admit, it's occurred to me that it might be smart to look for work somewhere that I'll meet possible romantic prospects. Publishing is dominated by women, so maybe it's time to leave publishing. Any suggestions?

Find work in Alaska, the Yukon, the North West Territories or Nunavut? The proportion of men to women in especially the smaller towns is definitely in our favour.

greencat, here's hoping it works out. You can still drop by for the cookies and booze.

I've read that it's actually incredibly uncomfortable to be a woman in Alaska and other places where the ratio is so skewed--there's an expectation that you *owe* it to the men there to go out with them and party with them, and it sounds like they can be pretty boorish. Besides, I'm from Georgia. I'd die in that cold.

Has anyone created a dating service for inhibited intellectuals? That's more my speed.